. They possibly have the deepest team in the conference. Also they probably have the most talented bench. Especially if they add Landry, AK47, Mayo or Crawford.

. The Pacers frontline, imo, is now top 3 in the conference. I'd say Bulls, Knicks, Pacers. You could probably make a decent argument that they have the best. And if Roy blows up, look out. David West played his best ball when Tyson Chandler was mining the paint.

. They're young and deep. 66 games in this short of time is a sprint from start to finish. They might have the best team in the conference to sprint start to finish. Conversely, I can honesty see Boston missing the playoffs.

. The Pacers are tough. It's going to be a load to deal with Hibbert/West/Granger/George/Collison. Then they bring Psycho T and Foster off the bench? Can we call him Psycho Foster after last years playoffs? They roughed Chicago up last year. This a tough team with a tough minded coach. Id personally like to see them add Landry to the mix.

. They can win the Central. It's not a forgone conclusion that Chicago is running away with it anymore. Not after the West signing. Not after the problems the Pacers gave the Bulls last year. They couldn't defend Tyler. Now they get West, with Collison running the PnR with him and oh yeah spurts of Tyler off the bench? Yah. And Paul G already showed he can disrupt Rose. Now we have Hill too? Yup. Obviously they only play them like four times or something, but my point is, there is another big dog in the yard ( central division ).

. All of which is why I think they can atleast get home court advantage through the second round. But I also think the ceiling is higher. I think this team can win the East. I think Bird had constructed the perfect Super Team killer. Size, depth, athleticism, defense, offense, hunger and veteran experience.

rexnom

12-13-2011, 06:34 AM

I think we have a very good chance at finishing the regular season with a great record. The playoffs will be a bit different, of course but, as you say, we're built for this regular season.

That being said, I'd be careful to discount these teams like Boston, New York, Chicago, and Miami with multiple all-stars. These teams have at least two players that are arguably better than our best player. When the playoffs roll around and these players can play 40+ minutes each game, it'll be tough for us to keep up.

ErikD.

12-13-2011, 06:59 AM

As long as we beat the Bulls every time we play them, I'll be happy.

Kstat

12-13-2011, 07:15 AM

I like the optimism....

Shade

12-13-2011, 08:07 AM

Um...no.

Top 4? Maybe. Better than Miami and Boston? I don't see it.

Will Galen

12-13-2011, 08:13 AM

Hahahahahaha! Good one! For all we know Howard could join Chicago, and Chris Paul could join New York. We don't know where some guys will go yet.

Heck, if everything breaks right we could win the NBA Championship.

I'm serious!

By 'breaking' right, I mean if Labron and Kobe, and Rose, and Pierce and all the other stars break a 'right' leg, then we could seriously have a shot.

Seriously . . . giggle, giggle, snort!

Mourning

12-13-2011, 08:18 AM

I like the positive attitude, but I would be all-giddy if we can get the 5th spot. Ah well it's good to see that after the past years we are finally able to look up to the future with optimism.

Foul on Smits

12-13-2011, 08:19 AM

I'll stand alone on this one. I may be all hopped up on TebowMania, but I believe. I seriously think we can the East. Who's coming with me! WHO'S COMING WITH ME!

Foul on Smits

12-13-2011, 08:22 AM

Who's coming out on this limb with me!

aero

12-13-2011, 08:26 AM

OP while I love your optimism I don't quite see us winning the east. We have a shot to do something special this year that's for sure I just cant see us winning it all. There are so many factors, I cant wait to see the Pacers play though im pumped up. The season cant start soon enough

2minutes twoa

12-13-2011, 08:27 AM

Don't know about winning the East, but I can't wait to see West, Foster, Psycho T and big Roy kick the **** out of Boozer and Noah!!

---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.061515,-85.533539

xtacy

12-13-2011, 08:35 AM

I like the positive attitude, but I would be all-giddy if we can get the 5th spot. Ah well it's good to see that after the past years we are finally able to look up to the future with optimism.

amen.

glazedham42

12-13-2011, 08:38 AM

My optimistic goal for us this year is to get out of the first round. I think that would be a nice step, without having totally unrealistic expectations. We're not getting to the NBA Finals yet though. Notice I said YET. :)

Steagles

12-13-2011, 08:47 AM

Um...no.

Top 4? Maybe. Better than Miami and Boston? I don't see it.

I think we can take any team in a 7 game set. I also think we can win 45 games this year.

Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

idioteque

12-13-2011, 08:58 AM

I'd say we have a chance to have a better record than Boston and Atlanta, but probably not Miami or chicago.

Ace E.Anderson

12-13-2011, 09:54 AM

My optimistic goal for us this year is to get out of the first round. I think that would be a nice step, without having totally unrealistic expectations. We're not getting to the NBA Finals yet though. Notice I said YET. :)

Teams rarely (if ever) make the leap from 8th seed (we didn't finish with a .500 record) to number one seed. If we are 4th or 5th, and have a competitive first round series (6+games) then we had a successful season to build off of. But the fact that we are even TALKING about the Pacers being a top team in the east is a great thing in itself!

MillerTime

12-13-2011, 09:58 AM

I like the drugs you guys are on....and I'll take 4 orders of the same

Ownagedood

12-13-2011, 10:03 AM

We can't win the East... Our trademark for the last few years has been challenging the good teams, but losing to the bad teams... Until we beat all the bad teams were supposed to beat, were not gonna rise up a ton in the standings. I will wait and see.

However, I do believe Bird and co. have built a very good team. They are David's in the world of David and Goliaths. They don't have a Superstar, but they play with great, hard defense, and with plenty of heart.. We will definitely challenge the top teams come playoff time. Pacers have what it takes to be Superstar slayers.

With our impressive defensive players we have the advantage in a lot of matchups, as long as we can get scores at the end of games. Still have to get a clutch shooter, maybe that's Hill.?

Ballerzfan

12-13-2011, 10:06 AM

Who's coming out on this limb with me!

Is there a big soft pile of snow below us and can we also wear those pants they used in Jackass 3.5? :D

vnzla81

12-13-2011, 10:07 AM

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/normal_CocaineRickJames-300x240.jpg

BillS

12-13-2011, 10:11 AM

We will have improved, but leapfrogging Miami and Chicago? Not quite yet.

If we get 4th seed and home court in the first round I'll call this a MAJOR success. Getting to the second round would be icing on the cake. Going further would essentially be "Miracle on Pennsylvania"

DaveP63

12-13-2011, 10:17 AM

P5. I don't see us hopping anybody...Yet.

Lance George

12-13-2011, 10:24 AM

Miami's the clear-cut best team in the East, followed by Chicago, who probably aren't quite as good as last year's record indicates. After that, who knows?

Boston's been good, obviously, but they're decrepit. I'm waiting for the day when KG, Pierce, and Allen all three simultaneously turn to dust on the court.

Atlanta's been consistently good but nothing special.

Orlando went home in the 1st round and have the Dwight Howard drama lingering.

New York has proven nothing more than we have, and while the Chandler acquisition was nice, they lost the highly underrated Billups in the process.

The Nets were 4-8 with Deron Williams in the line-up, so anyone who thinks they're guaranteed to be better than us is a fool.

Philly was surprisingly decent last season, but they've made no major moves.

Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Washington are all garbage.

Realistically, I'd say #3 would be our best-case finish.

Pacerized

12-13-2011, 10:52 AM

It's way to early to know where we'll be.
We first need to get the team set and with 14 mil in cap space I still hope for improvements along the lines of a starting quality big man who can play in the post, or a starting quality pg. We're very undersized in the paint and will get out rebounded badly if we don't find the right big man. Neither West or Hibbert are good rebounders.
We need to see if West can play and at what level, I don't see him contributing like he did in 09 as soon as he returns.
If we don't get the pieces in place that we need, then I don't see us making the playoffs, however I feel comfortable that Bird will find the player we need and I hope for a top 6 seed.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 10:54 AM

Until one of our assets really makes a big leap or we turn those assets into an already established star, I think 4 or 5 seed is our ceiling.

dohman

12-13-2011, 10:57 AM

A lot of this year is going to depend on how DC improves. We are really depending on him.

Unclebuck

12-13-2011, 11:01 AM

I think 5th or 6th is realistic - although we don't have our final team together yet. No way we are going to finish ahead of the heat, Bulls or Celtics. Many of you are writing of the C's way to soon. (I still think they can win the east in the playoffs if healthy). and any team with Dwight Howard is a 50 win team

Keep in mind 40 wins in a 66 game season is the same as 50 wins in a 82 game season.

I don't think we are a 50 win team yet. I see more like 36 wins in a 66 game season = 45 wins in a 82 game season. I think right now 45 or 36 wins is reasonable - unless we acquire a difference maker

Ownagedood

12-13-2011, 11:02 AM

New York has proven nothing more than we have, and while the Chandler acquisition was nice, they lost the highly underrated Billups in the process.

Realistically, I'd say #3 would be our best-case finish.
I think you're underrating NY here.. I don't think we will have a better record than them, though i do think we would beat them in a matchup.

Carmelo, Amare, Chandler, Bibby, Fields and co can put up some good numbers.. They will beat a lot of teams.

Shade

12-13-2011, 11:04 AM

We're definitely not better than Miami or Boston, and I'm not convinced we've done enough yet to surpass Chicago. So I see #4 as the best-case scenario, if we acquire Mayo.

I could see a Pacers/Knicks 4-5 match-up in the first round.

Unclebuck

12-13-2011, 11:07 AM

I think you're underrating NY here.. I don't think we will have a better record than them, though i do think we would beat them in a matchup.

Carmelo, Amare, Chandler, Bibby, Fields and co can put up some good numbers.. They will beat a lot of teams.

if Mike Brown was their new coach, I see them as the 4th best team in the east. With their current coach, who knows. Unless assistant Mike Woodson can get them to play defense and their head coach is willing to emphasize it

Really?

12-13-2011, 11:13 AM

We have only added David West, we still have no rebounding presence, I think we are a little better but us doing better this season will most likely be due to other teams getting worst rather than us getting better. I think ATL has gotten worst, Orlando about the same, Boston about the same, NY will be determined once the fill in their roster, Chicago will be better, Miami will be better.

I think we have a good chance to be in the 4th-6th spot, some where in there it should be a pretty tight race for those spots, especially with the shortened season.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 11:13 AM

No team with Mike Bibby as their starting point guard is a threat in the playoffs anymore. Sorry.

No team with Mike Bibby as their starting point guard is a threat in the playoffs anymore. Sorry.

huh? Miami?

Naptown_Seth

12-13-2011, 11:24 AM

We have only added David West,
Ironic considering your avitar

I'm in the "45 wins in 82 games" camp like Buck, 4th seed as the ceiling, but I will say that the wild card in play here is the intense schedule. The Pacers do have a lot of youth and decent depth and that could change things quite a bit. It's hard to say how this will go.

After all, the last partial season resulted in an 8th seed in the Finals.

dgranger17

12-13-2011, 11:25 AM

I'll stand alone on this one. I may be all hopped up on TebowMania, but I believe. I seriously think we can the East. Who's coming with me! WHO'S COMING WITH ME!

I'm with ya Smits..

1st full year under Vogel, the addition of Brian Shaw, last year's first round, the Indy Star writing positive articles, Larry Bird, and the shortened season all seem like the perfect storm. Conseco should be at least 75% full each game and we know Area55 will bring it. I like our chances.

Have I mentioned I Love Larry?

Hicks

12-13-2011, 11:25 AM

We go into the year with what appears to be a great coaching staff and no JOB in sight.

We added George Hill, David West, and we're probably about to add either Jamal Crawford or OJ Mayo.

Winning the conference in the regular season sounds like pie in the sky to me, but we are absolutely looking much better than last year.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 11:25 AM

huh? Miami?

1.) That was last season.

2.) He didn't even play in the last game of the Finals.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 11:26 AM

Ironic considering your avitar

Yeah, it's like people have completely forgotten about George Hill over the past couple days.

Ozwalt72

12-13-2011, 11:31 AM

Well, they play the games for a reason.

We are better than we were last year....on paper. Still have to go out there and get the job done.

This team could end up anywhere from 4th to 10th in my opinion.

Major Cold

12-13-2011, 11:33 AM

Yeah, it's like people have completely forgotten about George Hill over the past couple days.

What is a George Hill?

Unclebuck

12-13-2011, 11:33 AM

No team with Mike Bibby as their starting point guard is a threat in the playoffs anymore. Sorry.

he won't be their starting point guard.

vnzla81

12-13-2011, 11:35 AM

1.) That was last season.

2.) He didn't even play in the last game of the Finals.

You said playoffs.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 11:36 AM

You said playoffs.

I also said anymore. I wasn't talking about the Heat. I'm talking about the now.

Ownagedood

12-13-2011, 11:36 AM

2.) He didn't even play in the last game of the Finals.

Its no wonder they lost! :D

PR07

12-13-2011, 11:38 AM

I don't see us winning the East, but do I think we could take down a top seed come playoff time? Absolutely. We'd be hard-pressed to take down two though.

vnzla81

12-13-2011, 11:39 AM

I also said anymore. I wasn't talking about the Heat. I'm talking about the now.

So now you want to talk about the now, ok then.

Mr.ThunderMakeR

12-13-2011, 11:44 AM

. They can win the Central. It's not a forgone conclusion that Chicago is running away with it anymore. Not after the West signing. Not after the problems the Pacers gave the Bulls last year. They couldn't defend Tyler. Now they get West, with Collison running the PnR with him and oh yeah spurts of Tyler off the bench? Yah. And Paul G already showed he can disrupt Rose. Now we have Hill too? Yup. Obviously they only play them like four times or something, but my point is, there is another big dog in the yard ( central division ).Winning the Central means winning more regular season games than the Bulls, not beating them in a playoff series. That's a big difference. I'd say the second is more likely then the first. There's no way were winning more games than the Bulls this season.

ndcoltsnpacers

12-13-2011, 11:44 AM

I like the optimism, but damn this sure could turn quick once the games actually start. All we have to do is start off something like 7-13, a definite possibility with the first month or so of our schedule and we'll be seeing "Larry Bird needs to retire", "I'm not sure about Vogel", and "Our front court is the softest in the NBA" threads. I really don't want to see those, I hope people aren't getting their hopes up TOO much. There's a lot of upside on this squad, but I'd like to see them together a game or 2 before I start looking toward winning the East.

Trader Joe

12-13-2011, 11:54 AM

So now you want to talk about the now, ok then.

What part of "A team with Mike Bibby as their starting point guard is not a threat in the playoffs anymore" is not dealing with the now? You're the one that brought up the Heat. Might as well have said "uh? the Kings?"

trey

12-13-2011, 12:02 PM

I like the optimism but this reminds me of some guy I heard on the radio comparing Curtis Painter to Peyton Manning. :laugh: But I think Pacers could grab the 7th seed, and I'd be like :happydanc

vnzla81

12-13-2011, 12:10 PM

I like the optimism but this reminds me of some guy I heard on the radio comparing Curtis Painter to Peyton Manning. :laugh: But I think Pacers could grab the 7th seed, and I'd be like :happydanc

7th seed is about right maybe 6th.

RLeWorm

12-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Um...no.

Top 4? Maybe. Better than Miami and Boston? I don't see it.

Boston sucks. Miami steam rolled through them in the playoffs. They are too old. So i can see us finishing better than them

Naptown_Seth

12-13-2011, 12:44 PM

Yeah, it's like people have completely forgotten about George Hill over the past couple days.
Stupid lockout.

I was guilty of it about a month ago when someone asked me who we drafted and I couldn't remember. :blush:

That's a big addition out of the draft. Even if you preferred Leonard long term you'd have to admit that this year Hill will be more advanced and prepared, especially with no summer ball, reduced camp time and virtually no practice time during the season.

3 8 thee great t h

12-13-2011, 01:05 PM

Foul on smits and dgranger 17 u have a big three now I'm with u guys! idc about realism I think we are going to be a tough team to beat and if reggie miller is confident that we can match up with the heat who are supposedly the best team in the league then that means that we shOuld be able to beat the rest of the league......LETS GO PACERS! WIN THE EAST!

Naptown_Seth

12-13-2011, 02:29 PM

I like the optimism, but damn this sure could turn quick once the games actually start. All we have to do is start off something like 7-13, a definite possibility with the first month or so of our schedule and we'll be seeing "Larry Bird needs to retire", "I'm not sure about Vogel", and "Our front court is the softest in the NBA" threads. I really don't want to see those, I hope people aren't getting their hopes up TOO much. There's a lot of upside on this squad, but I'd like to see them together a game or 2 before I start looking toward winning the East.
I realize we will see some people like that, but I'd like to think that we have a majority of rational posters who recognize the situation and the schedule better than that.

Even with a 66 game schedule it's pretty hard to win or lose the situation within the first 20 games. There are a LOT of home games down the stretch that could make for a nice kick going into the playoffs.

And there's the risk that West either struggles or won't be recovered throughout this season even.

The key is to having an appropriate coaching staff and a good salary makeup that leaves the team moderately flexable and young. I'll never stop supporting that.

Hicks

12-13-2011, 02:44 PM

7-13? Yeesh. I don't think so. Hell, with the schedule we have, it wouldn't be too surprising to start 5-0. We're going to go 2-13 after that? No way. Not without some serious injuries. *knocks on wood*

Scot Pollard

12-13-2011, 04:05 PM

I love the optimism and as a Pacers fan, I won't say anything bad about you're bright prediction.

We're in for a great season. I'll say that.

NapTonius Monk

12-13-2011, 04:49 PM

Don't know about winning the East, but I can't wait to see West, Foster, Psycho T and big Roy kick the **** out of Boozer and Noah!!

---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.061515,-85.533539
I'll be content with Roy not getting blocked by the pg for now. We're still a bit away from winning the East.

Richard_Skull

12-13-2011, 08:38 PM

I might buy having the best 2nd half in the East. Since we do have a young and deep team, I could see some of the other teams losing a step and start saving up for the playoffs. Plus, we'll need time to gel and acclimate our 2 or 3 new players.

pezasied182

12-13-2011, 08:41 PM

I might buy having the best 2nd half in the East. Since we do have a young and deep team, I could see some of the other teams losing a step and start saving up for the playoffs. Plus, we'll need time to gel and acclimate our 2 or 3 new players.

Especially with the majority of the games in the second half of the season being at home.

IndySDExport

12-13-2011, 08:48 PM

I feel you.

Love the optimism.

This is the first season in a while that I feel like we can make an impact and move forward. I like that more than anything. Lets see what this team can do.

Yes, he plays good defense and he can stroke the long ball for sure. He knows the system and could be vital during this crazy season push. Besides, this is a important year for him, he has to step his game up.

oxxo

12-13-2011, 11:47 PM

I think we have a bright future but unless PG explodes I can't see us winning the East. Don't think 4 seed is out of the question though.

trs72

12-14-2011, 12:13 AM

As long as we beat the Bulls every time we play them, I'll be happy.

Same here. My 2 favorite teams are the Pacers and whoever is playing the Bulls.